To get the double buggy back out for my 7 and 3 yr olds

[Kuio]

No size issue, they are usually petite, and not bothered by the buggy. They probably miss it if anything

My main fitness was walking, long distance and speedy rather than pottering around. It’s so hard with kids, they aren’t bad walkers for their age but can’t really stride fast enough or cover distance in a way that will make a proper dent on my fitness levels.

I’ve still got my double, I live in a hilly area. My husband works long hours and I just don’t have time otherwise. I’m thinking of each afternoon popping them in the buggy for a really brisk hilly 3-4 mile walk. With the double it’s not easy. I do other things, like cycle, but this is a super easy no prep way of actually sticking to something for fitness tat works.

I’m getting flabby, odd? If you saw me regularly would you think it was odd...? We do walk together, but as I said it’s just not going to keep me fit staying at their pace

You sound really angry towards posters who are only trying to help OP.
You've obviously decided to do it, and if your DD really doesn't mind, then do.

Btw I know exactly what you mean about there just being no time. Sometimes you’ve got to be kind to yourself and accept now isn’t the time for you to be able to do everything. It won’t be long before they’re older and things are easier x

I wouldn't judge you OP. But I do wonder whether it's fair to take the 7yo out for an hour+ in the buggy after a day at school. It'd be different with a baby because they'd probably sleep. Your DD might want to chat about her day, do some drawing, watch tv etc. But she can't because you want to exercise

This, it sounds pretty sad.

Also why have you posted? You've clearly made your mind up. Just get on with it. You definitely could exercise at home but if you want to take your children out for an hour in an age inappropriate method of travel when they'd rather be home then just do it.

I'm struggling to see an issue with it. I like the suggestion of leaving them in a play park while you jog round the perimeter - would that work for you OP? I used to do that with DS when he was younger, just making sure I kept him in view.

All of these suggestions to exercise indoors are all well and good but running up and down stairs a few times, or doing a Wii workout are no real substitute for a decent run or fast walk outside. OP, I totally get your desire to exercise outside - it's so good for the mental as well as physical health.

Really, I don’t think you are leading a similar life are you?

Well I guess that's the thanks you get for trying to help. I'm not psychic I didn't know the buggy was in the shed. I was trying to think outside the box and offer solutions which might help.

If you want to do it then fine go and do it but honestly it sounds like this is just the tip of the ice burg and you probably could do with some real life support. If you feel like you are not managing to hold everything together then you really need to sit down and talk to your partner. You are equally responsible for the children and it doesn't sound like he is doing much to help you.

Just do it. A healthy active mother is a good thing and it's doing them no harm sat in a buggy.

Love a brisk walk so I get where you're coming from!

It would have saved a lot of trouble if you just said you worked it’s not like that is identifying . If they fit in the buggy why not give it a go.

@angieloumc I’ll be honest, yes I’m frustrated. There are a few helpful suggestions, one is just posted actually in how they did it with the 5k laps, but mostly tho thread is a lot of people not reading it or making stuff up based on their own experience of life. It has been quite irritating yes. Like ‘I don’t have free time’= go at this time I have at lunch/ when the kids are at schoo or ‘my child can’t keep up= scoot/ cycle like my child can’.

If you didn’t want the seven year old on the buggy, could she stand on a buggy board at the back of it?

If I saw an older child in a buggy I’d probably assume mobility issues; I wouldn’t judge. But I’d think if any kids from school saw her in a buggy, they might tease so that would be my only reservation and it could well be unfounded.

I once said to my BF "that child is far to old to be in a buggy"

He said "how do you know they aren't disabled?"

That shut me up! I don't judge kids in buggies anymore. Your health and wellbeing is important so do what you have to do.

Given you dont' have any other option, then go for it, but won't the 7 year old be embarrassed and bored? Will they sit nicely, going nowhere for an hour? (which it'll have to be to make it worth while.

Other options would be to do a fitness video every evening, there's loads on you tube for around 30 minutes that don't need a lot of space and no equipment.

Walking was always my fitness too - I recently chanaged to drop the DCs at the childminder 20 minutes earlier so I could walk to work. It does make such a difference.

It does sound like your life doesn't work for you right now - to manage your finances, to have your DCs in the schools they are in, to live where you do, all the juggling seems to land on you and the person who's missing out is you.

Can anything give? You mention 3 locations for drop offs/pick ups, is that because older DCs need to be dropped at secondary schools? Can they get themselves there and back?

would you be better off mentally and financially looking to work full time with wrap around childcare paid to a childminder (who got your younger 2 to preschool and school), so you could have more money and time like a lunch break? What about looking for 3/4 full days and one for you.

I can see why having a school hours only job can seem like the ideal, but it can often mean you are expected to do everything a SAHM of school age DCs does, while not having those 6 hours in the middle to get it all done - often it's easier to work outside school hours, but win back some free time via a lunch break or one day a week at home when they are at school.

Id do it 🤷‍♀️ its an hour a day, the 7 year old will hardly be bored, kids love watching the world go by plus if your actually running itll be blurry wont it,

If it was me and i had your limited options i would do it. Its 60 minutes, the children wont be bored to death will they and if you want to get fit what a brilliant way to do it

How would the 7yo be on a buggy board? I appreciate that might not be ideal with the balance issues but would be less likely to be judged than being in the buggy if that’s bothering you.

Have you got any options at all for evenings/early morning exercise? If the only time is that post school slot, it’s always going to be hard unless you can do something at home. I have been in excessive classes where children have sat in but that obviously involves spending money and probably wouldn’t work for the 3yo quite yet but could perhaps be an option for the future.

@SmileCheese but it’s just odd to make presumptions on a tangent. Now my partner isn’t pulling his weight? He’s a great guy who works long hours and puts all his money into the family. He just works a lot, that is life. They aren’t really linked to the point, and are just odd are they? Like space advice for a buggy? When buggies are rarely the things in houses bunging up the front room? Or long hours= not helpful. It’s like me suddenly advising you to watch a comedy on tv instead of documentaries to balance your tone of conversation. Just... tangental at best, at worst a bit offensive

When I started running I got up early and did it at the local park before everyone else was awake. I then moved on to taking the kids to the park while I did laps of it. When I had enough of that, I did fitness dvds at home. I personally wouldn’t strap a 7 year old into a buggy for what, an hour?, just so I could exercise.

I think you should try it for half an hour to start with and see how it goes!
I personally wouldn’t even notice if a buggy contained a 7 year old, and if I didn’t I wouldn’t care at all.
As long as the kids are happy with the arrangement, I don’t see any problem with it. Pretty achievable.
I think it’s really good that you are trying to do something for your own health and fitness and try to fit it around 5 kids. I totally get the idea that you’d like to do the exercise outdoors away from busy roads and the fresh air will be good for the kids as you can chat away, you can talk about homework, or only topics so it has an educational element to it and f older DD wants to, she can walk alongside you for a little bit.

Just... tangental at best, at worst a bit offensive

I don't think its unfair to bring your partner into the equation. You honestly sound like you are at tipping point from the way you are writing. You are being expected to do all the childcare and work and you have no time to even enjoy your lunch break. Mental wellbeing is important and it doesn't sound like you are getting any time to yourself. Try to remember that whilst your partner works long hours to support your family you also work long hours to support them. The difference is he gets time at work to think and breath and you don't seem to get any of that time.

I actually find buggy time good talking time, I don’t ignore them in it. We talk about all we see and enjoy each other like most people would do in the same situation

You need to exercise if you’re this agitated about it.

But you need to think creatively.

If time is tight between the last drop off and work and vice versa: run. Put your gym kit on and run. If you’ve got stuff to carry, uniform, whatever, figure it out. That’s what we all do.

If you’ve got stairs at home, run up and down them x15 every morning. Do crunches at home, lift weights. Or eat less 🤷‍♀️

You have time, money and space restraints. Loads of people do. Be creative, think laterally. You can always figure something out if you really want to. It just might not be easy.

And stop shouting at people who are trying to help you.

If you dressed very sporty and walked super fast (as in almost panting!) I wouldn’t give it a second thought. If you were in jeans and were walking at stroll I might judge. In scenario a I’d assume work out or time issues; in scenario b I’d assume lazy kid and soft parent.

You are expecting posters to be psychic and know your circumstances without you explaining them then getting getting snippy at the suggestions.

I love exercise, it’s great for my overall health and well being so I get that, but what you are suggestion is pretty selfish for your 7 year old. To be out in the cold during winter in a buggy at age 7? There are other options. You just don’t want to do them.

It's a good idea OP, do it and don't give any sh*TS about what we or anyone else thinks.

It wouldnt be my first choice, my initial reaction to 7 is far too old to be in a buggy. But with all the other info seems like might make sense. A buggy board sounds like a disaster with her coordination and you being petite and trying to run. It is getting dark now early if she was wrapped up and in buggysnuggle etc and you are running would anyone actually even notice/see her? I suppose a worry is that its am hour a day she isnt mobile and improving her motor skills. I suppose if she is tired after schooling depends what would she be doing at home and if this is a loss or not.

The pavement thing sounds stupid and dangerous.

As I said before posters are just trying to make suggestions.
What about what Jeezoh suggested, going running/walking super early in the morning while everyone is in bed? Not ideal as I expect you're worn out but an alternative to taking your youngest two out in a buggy. You might find you enjoy the solitude!

Buggy board on the back of a single? That was she has the option to jump off now and again.